There was drama during a church function in Nyatike, Migori County, after goons armed with crude weapons infiltrated an event seeking out a local politician.
Worshippers in attendance at the interdenominational prayer service and fundraiser at Kabobo, Macalder Kanyarwanda Ward, were forced to flee for their safety as goons, armed with machetes hidden in their clothing, blended in the crowd before eventually threatening to disrupt the event.
Videos obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed a mammoth crowd scampering to one side, as several individuals targeted an unnamed politician.
Incidentally, the scuffle took place in full glare of Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, and President William Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet, among others.
While the cause of the scuffle remains unclear, conflicting reports suggest that the goons' presence may have been related to the attendance of Kanyarwanda MCA Felix Okwanyo at the event.
According to a source who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, there was tension prior to the fundraiser among the area MP, MCAs and Okwanyo, who is an open critic of the current Migori County regime.
“He (Okwanyo) is a vocal opposer of the governor and the area MP. There are rumours that he plans to contest for a seat in 2027. He has also been very critical of the current committee overseeing gold mining, especially since his ward is one of the top mining zones in Migori," the source said.
"Okwanyo has made so many enemies, it’s hard to say exactly who might have decided to retaliate against him at such a function."
No official statement from Migori leaders has been issued regarding the fracas at the time of publication of this article.
The issue of hiring goons to settle political scores has become prevalent in the country, with the latest incident in Migori coming months after an event organised by Cooperatives and MSMEs CS Wycliffe Oparanya's partner descended into chaos after youths armed with knives and machetes disrupted the function.
More recently, armed goons have reportedly infiltrated the Kenya Human Rights Commission offices ahead of a press briefing by Kenyan mothers on the eve of Saba Saba Day protests.
The mothers had called the presser to demand an end to the arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of their children for taking to the streets.
